Kathy Stan-Ross and Bill Ross have always supported their sons’ love of music. Now Saskatoon’s music community is rallying to support them right back.

When the lights hit the stage at Rock for Recovery at The Broadway Theatre on May 16, local musicians will come together to raise money for Kathy Stan-Ross.

“Two years ago, my mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer,” said Stan-Ross’ son, Barrett Ross, one of the organizers of the fundraiser. Ross is a well-known audio engineer/producer in Saskatoon and plays in the band Foam Lake with his brothers Paul, Tyler, and Kalen.

Foam LakeSupplied photo

A few years back, Stan-Ross underwent successful treatment outside the country. However, recent changes have thrown the family back into the fray.

“She had been in total recession, but the cancer came back,” Ross said. “We sent her back to the clinic, which is not without its financial hardship.”

Rock for Recovery will feature Foam Lake, The Radiation Flowers, Hattie, Nites Out, The Garrys, and DJ Potash Corpse. The stacked lineup came together easily because the artists have worked with Ross in some capacity and wanted to help in any way they could.

“My wife wanted to help,” Ross said. “Everybody in her band knows my mom. The Garrys had a brother that died of cancer a few years ago, so when they found out they said, ‘Anything we can do to help.’ A lot of the people came to me when they heard what I was doing.”

“(The Ross Family) are all such lovely people,” said Lenore Meier, one of three sisters in the Saskatoon surf-rock outfit, The Garrys. “We know what it is like to have cancer hit our family. Community support is so helpful in times like these.”

The GarrysSupplied photo

The Broadway Theatre, where Ross sometimes does live sound, was quick to support the event. The theatre has the bonus of being an all-ages venue.

“A lot of these bands that play around the city don’t normally get to play all-ages venues,” Ross said. “They’re usually playing venues like Amigos or Black Cat or whatever, which are great venues, but younger kids can’t go. There’s people who want to see this music, but no other real facility in the city to do that. I thought this would be great for that as well.”

While the cause is serious, the tone of the night won’t be.

“We can’t wait to play this show, and also to listen to the other great bands and hang with so many pals for an important cause,” Meier said.

“It’s going to be a great time,” echoed Ross. “There will be 50/50 and prize draws, some good music, and a lot of fun people.”

Tickets are available at the Broadway Theatre. If you are not able to attend but still want to support the Ross family, there is a Rock for Recovery GoFundMe.

Craig Silliphant is a Saskatoon writer, editor, critic, and broadcaster. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @craigsilliphant